Buttonhole-moistener.



N0. 704,577. Patnied .luly l5, |902. E. PUFF.

BUTTDNHULE. MUISTENER.

'Application led Nov. 29, 1901.)

(No Model.)

Edvard/Puff' loeoiof UNTTnn STATns f" PATENT; OFFICE EDVARD PUFF, OF MONTGOMERY, NEW YORK.

BUTTONHOLNMOISTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 704,577, dated July 15, 1902.

Application fled November 29, 1901. Serial No. 84,088. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD PUFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Montgorn ery, in the county of Orange and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Buttonhole-llfloistener, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for moistening buttonholes.

The object of the invention is to provide a device for moistening the inner edges of a buttonhole without dampening or soiling the material adjacent thereto.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a perspective view of this improved buttonhole-moistener ready for use. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal vertical section thereof. Fig., 3 represents a plan view of the moistening end of this device, showing the guide for opening the buttonhole. Fig. 4 represents a transverse section of the tube taken on line 4: It of Fig. 2.

The same reference-numerals indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

The device as illustrated comprises a tube 10, formed of any suitable material, such as glass or metal. This tube has a reduced portion forming a neck 11, which is provided with peripheral perforations, as 12. An annular shoulder 13 is formed at the juncture of the neck 11 with the tube-body 10, against which the edge of a buttonholeis adapted to abut, and thus prevent the device from being inserted too far.

The device when viewed in side elevation or longitudinal section, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, is tapered at each end of the neck, the tapered portions presenting curved edges, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The outer portion or head 15 is tapered and flattened to form a wedge-shaped guide or buttonhole-opener 15, and this general taper, which is clearly shown in Fig. 3, enables the head Vto be readily passed through a buttonhole, and after the head has been passed throughthe same the device is partially rotated and the'edges of the fabric at the buttonhole are centered or held at the perforations of the neck by the said oppositely-tapered portions to enable the moisture to be applied to the edges of the fabric.

The tube-body 10 is preferably provided at its outer open end with an` annular rib 16, adapted to engage a flexible bulb, now to be described.

A bulb 20 of the form usually employed for fillers for fountain-pens is preferably made of rubber and is adapted to surround the outer open end of the tube 10 and engage the rib 16 thereon, whereby accidental displace'- ment is prevented.

In the use of this device the perforated end thereof is inserted in a liquid, preferably Water, and the tube 10 is filled therewith by suction caused by compressing the bulb 2O and then releasing it in the `ordinary manner. The Wedge-like head or guide 15 is thenl proL jected through a `buttonhole of any article `which requires the buttonhole thereof to be moistened-such as laundered collars, cuffs, shirts, and the like-until the edge thereof abuts against the shoulder 13. The bulb 20 is then slightly compressed, while the tube is revolved slowly, and the inner edge of the buttonhole is moistened to any desired degree, whereby it may be easily manipulatedas, for instance, preparatory to buttoning a garment.

I claim as my invention- 1. A buttonhole-nioistener comprising a tube providedat one end with a head and having a reduced neck connecting the head with the tube and adapted to lie Within a buttonhole during the moistening operation and provided with a perforation, and means for forcing a liquid through the perforation, substantially as described.

2. A buttonhole -moistener comprising a tube open at one end and provided at its other end with a reduced neck, an annular shoulder disposed between said neck and tube, and a wedge-shaped guide attached to said neck, said neck having peripheral perforations therein.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto amxed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

EDWARD PUFF. 

